Things you will need/I recommend :

  • Hibiclens or an Anti-Bacterial  Soap

  • Ointment (aquaphor or tattoo specific ointment)

  • Lotion (Curel, Eucerin, Gold Bond)

  • Bactine

  • Healing with an adhesive film, i.e. Saniderm, tattooderm, tagaderm etc., is also acceptable if you do not have an adhesive allergy. See instructions at the bottom of this page.

Wash your tattoo with an ANTI-MICROBIAL or ANTI-BACTERIAL soap 3-4 times daily. I recommend HIBICLENS or Dial. Within the first few days of healing, your body is going to attempt to form a scab over  your tattooed skin. It is important to gentle wash off excess ink and plasma that your tattoo will release. Create a lather of the anti-bacterial soap in your hands, wash your tattoo with warm to hot water, and rinse with cool water.  Allow your tattoo to dry then apply a thin layer of ointment. Be sure to apply ointment after each wash. If your tattoo feels tight or crusty, its safe to say that it needs washed. Hydration will allow your tattoo to heal quickly so please be diligent with ointment application. And remember, only a thin layer. 
 (If you would like to use Bactine during your healing process, spray some on after each wash, allow to dry then apply ointment. Bactine contains a small amount of lidocaine and helps with the sunburn feeling of a fresh tattoo. Its anti-septic properties are also a bonus. )

While your tattoo is healing, DO NOT touch with unclean hands, pick at or scratch. Unclean hands harbor bacteria which can cause infection and picking and scratching can damage your tattoo. 

Four to five days into its healing, stop using the ointment and apply lotion to your tattoo. Curel, Gold Bond, and Eucerin are brands that I give a thumbs up to. 

Do not expose your tattoo to direct sunlight during its early healing stages and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear sunblock. Tanning regularly or noticeable neglect of your tattoo to the sun will result in touch up forfeiture.

Things to watch for:

  • Showering: Showering is completely fine.  You can get your tattoo wet, but avoid soaking-- do not soak in the bathtub or go swimming.  Avoid hot tubs, pools, and any other bodies of water for a minimum of two weeks.  

  • Skin Sensitivity: If you notice, after a few days, red bumps or redness surrounding your tattoo, you may have a slight sensitivity to your ointment or lotion.  Wash your tattoo thoroughly and try switching to a different brand.  

  • Fabric: Try not to sleep on your tattoo.  Fresh tattoos will stick to fabric--this includes bed sheets and tight clothing.  If this happens, you run the risk of damaging your skin or losing color in your tattoo.  You can apply a bit more ointment in order to give your tattoo more protection in instances such as sleeping or needing to have clothing cover the area.  

  • Animals/Elements:  Your tattoo is an open wound and should be treated as such.  Avoid excessive touching, especially with dirty hands.  Avoid contact with animals near the fresh tattoo -- don't let your animals scratch, lick, jump, etc-- all of these provide ample opportunities for infection.  If your tattoo comes into contact with a pet, person, or surface, wash it immediately to avoid chance of infection.  

  • Continued Care: If you want your tattoo to look great, you need to continue to take care of it even after it is healed.  Use sunscreen when you are outside.  Lotion your skin.  Protect the area from elements where injury is possible.  

  • Touch Ups:  I guarantee one free touch up within the first year for all tattoos, except in the case where a tattoo has been poorly taken care of.  I can tell if you do not heed the aftercare instructions for avoiding water, sunlight, etc and tattoos that have been poorly taken care of or neglected may expunge the free touch up.  

Healing with an adhesive film

There are several products available for this healing route. There is no guarantee to go with this option and I personally cannot guarantee that you will have a perfect heal. Healing this way involves prolonged exposure to this film and reactions have been known to happen. Some are mild and some are moderate to severe. If you have a sensitivity to adhesives, this is not recommended. I have healed a couple of my tattoos with an adhesive film and have healed better than the traditional route. On the opposite side of the coin, I know some who have had to take their film off within hours due to an allergic reaction. If you’d like to give this healing option a go, I would recommend buying tagaderm in the Band-Aid section of Walmart or Walgreens and testing it on your body long before your tattoo appointment.

I recommend applying the film the following morning after your appointment. Your tattoo can be very weepy immediately after getting your tattoo and applying the film right after will trap in a lot of fluid. Leaks are likely to happen and I would much rather a film be applied once rather than twice. Its VERY sticky and can be painful to remove 12-24 hours later only to reapply a new piece. So, take care of your tattoo the old fashioned route until the following morning.
When you’re ready to apply the film
Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Rinse and let drive completely
Scrub AROUND your tattoo with rubbing alcohol
(this will strip your surrounding skin of oil and make the perfect clean adhesion area.)
Cut the desired size of film from the roll and cut the corners to make slightly rounded edges.
Apply the film with pressure starting from the top of your tattoo. Be sure to apply more pressure around the tattoo in order to limit the chance of leaking.
If more than one piece is needed, overlap the second piece just about half an inch above the bottom of the first applied piece.

Give it a slap and you’re good. ;)